Air conditioners



June 7, 1960 H. KARGER El'AL 2,939,297

AIR CONDITIONERS Filed Nov. 25, 1957 2 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTORS HENRY KARGER RALPH D. KEMPER ATTORNEY June 7, 1960 H. KARGER ETAL AIR CONDITIONERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25, 1957 INVENTORS HENRY KARGER RALPH D. KEMPER United States Patent C l AIR CONDITIONERS Henry Karger and Ralph D. Kemper, York, Pa., assignors to Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois 7 Filed Nov. 25, 1957, Ser. No. 698,639

8 Claims. (Cl. 62-298) This invention relates to window mounted room air conditioners and more particularly to a molded cabinet structure for such a room air conditioner.

It has been the practice to provide a cabinet for a room air conditioner composed of metal and including various structural elements needed for rigidity and strength. The entire assemblage has, therefore, been expensive, diflicult to fabricate and assemble and accounted for a large portion of the total weight of the room air conditioner. It will be readily apparent that in todays market with the trend toward small, compact, low-cost units of light weight, the so called portable units, that the substitution for the prior heavy, cumbersome, expensive, metallic cabinet of a molded two-piece structure will materially aid in reducing costs and total weight of the air conditioner. I

In addition to the above, there are further important advantages to be gained in the use of a molded cabinet structure. Its light weight, in addition to increasing portability, decreases the shipping and handling costs of the conditioner. The cabinet structure is corrosion resistant and susceptible of multiple color selections with no coating or painting. The molded cabinet also functions as a noise absorber thereby obviating one ofthe principal problems in room air conditioner design.

In constructing such a molded cabinet, it is important that it be designed to facilitate easy assembly and disassembly. Further, the cabinet should be designed for easy access to the interior components while the conditioner remains in position within a window.

It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide a cabinet structure for an air conditioner adapted for window mounting and providing easy access to the interior of the cabinet.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a room air conditioner comprising a molded two-piece cabinet assembly adapted for window mounting and wherein access may be had to the interior thereof without removal of the cabinet from the window and without disturbing the side seals for the window board.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a room air conditioner adapted for window mounting comprising a molded casing and separable cover member forming a cabinet and wherein the cover may be removed tom the casing for easy access therein by but a slight vertical movement of the cover member.

In carrying out the foregoing objectives, a molded twopiece cabinet assembly is provided including a casing and a cover member therefor. The casing comprises a bottom wall, side walls and a back wall adapted to receive the main components of the air conditioner. The cover member comprises a top wall and a front wall, which complements the casing to form the completed cabinet structure. With the cabinet mounted in a window structure, the cover member can be removed from the casing along a substantially horizontal plane thereby permitting the casing to remain within any window structure, no matter what the rangements and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above-stated objects and such other objects as will appear from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of an assembled room air conditioner according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the room air conditioner cabinet with the cover member thereof partially removed and a side wall thereof partially broken away in order to better show interior details;

Fig. 3 is a view in plan of the air conditioner of Fig. 1 with parts thereof in section and taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the air conditioner of Fig. 1 with the cover removed and various operating instrumenta1ities deleted for clarity; and

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation of the air conditioner of Fig. 1, with parts thereof in section and taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Turning now to the drawings, the air conditioner 10 comprises a two-piece molded cabinet assembly 11 comprising a casing 12 and a cover member 13.

The casing 12 comprises a bottom wall 14, a rear wall 15 and side walls 16 and 17. An outside air inlet opening 18, provided with a plurality of integrally molded louvers 19, is provided in the rear Wall 15 of the casing 12. An air outlet opening 20 is also provided in rear wall 15.

Integral flanges 21, 22 and 23 are molded to project from the front edges of walls 14, 16 and 17 respectively.

The cover member 13 comprises a top wall 24 and a front wall 25. Front wall 25 has a room air inlet opening 26 formed therein with a plurality of integrally molded decorative frame members 27 extending thereacross. Front wall 25 also includes a room air outlet opening 28 having a plurality of integral louvers 29 molded therein. Frontwall 25, in addition, is molded with a plurality of integral flanges 30, 31 and 32 projecting from the free edges thereof. Top wall 24 has a plurality of depending flanges 33, 34 and 35 fashioned integrally with the free edges thereof. Flanges 30, 31 and 32 encompass the bottom wall 14 and the flanged edges of side walls 16 and 17, while flanges 33, 34 and 35 encompass the upper free edges of rear wall 15 and side walls 16 and 17.

A separate divider insert 36 is provided for sub-dividing the cabinet 11 into an evaporator compartment 37 and a condenser compartment 38. Divider insert 36, as seen particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a main section 36a generally parallel to front wall 25, a section 36b normal to front wall 25 and a generally angled section 360 connecting sections 36a and 36b. Angled section 360 includes, as a part thereof, a seat portion 3611 which is parallel to front wall 25. It will be noted from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 5 that divider insert 36 extends, throughout its entire length, from bottom wall 14 to top wall 24. The main section 36a of divider insert 36 has an opening 39 therethrough. In order to maintain divider insert 36 in position and in order to maintain an air seal between the evaporator and condenser compartments 37 and 38, side wall 17 and front wall 25 are provided respectively, along the full lengths thereof, with complementary integrally molded tongue and groove connections 40 and 41 to receive the vertical free edges of divider insert 36. Further, and for the same purpose, top wall 24 and bottom wall 14 are provided with complementary tongue and groove connections 42 and 43 respectively to receive the horizontal free edges of divider insert 36. Connections 42 and 43 conform exactly to the contour of divider insert 36.

A fan shroud 44 is mounted within evaporator compartment '37, and, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 5, comprises Patented June 7, 1960 .tion 360 of divider insert 36 to a point in close proximity .to side wall 17 and an L-shaped section 44b which completes the extension offan shroud 44. to side ,wal1 17. Fan shroud 44 is maintainedin position by a tongue and groove connection 45 formed integrally inbottom wall 14. and conforming to the contour of fan shroud 44. The fan shroud 44 has an integrally formed, horizontally extending portion 46. (see Fig. which serves to definea plenum 47. An edge of the horizontally extending portion 46 is receivedwithin a slot 48 provided in flange 21 to further aid in maintaining the fan shroud 44 in position-(see particularly Fig. 2). ,Body section 44a of fan shroud '44 is providedwith an opening 49 therethrough.

A second fan shroud '50 is provided in condenser com partment 38 and, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a vertical body section 50a parallel to rear wall '15 and terminating on each end thereof in identical 8. shaped sections 50b, each having a seat portion 500 as partthereof. It will be noted that fan shroud 50 extends, along its entire length, between bottom wall 14 and top wall 24 and is maintained in proper position by a pair of complementary. tongue and groove connections 51 and 52 formed, integrally with top wall 24 and bottom wall 14 respectively and conforming to the contour of fan shroud 50. Body section 5011 of fan shroud 50 is provided with an opening '53 therethrough.

An electricalmotor 54 is received within opening 39 of divider insert 35 and is secured therein by any suitablemeans (not shown). Motor 54 drives a pair of fans 55 and 56 which rotate in the-openings 4 9 and 5-3 formed in fan shrouds 44 and 50 respectively. W

A conventional finned evaporator coil 57 is mounted in the. evaporator compartment 37 and seats against seat portion sea of divider insert 36 and the L shaped section 4411 of fan shroud 44, all as is shown in Fig, 3. A conthe window need only be sufficiently high to provide the approximately one-half inch to one inch vertical movement of the cover member necessary for the flanges to clear the casing.

-In addition, the side seals for the window boards (not shown), which must be provided to maintain the conditioner in place within a window, remain undisturbed when the cover .member is removed from the casing. This is an obvious advantage and accounts fora great saving in'tirne whenever the necessity arises for gain acess to the interior of the conditioner. 1

It will be further apparent that flange 32, projecting from the bottom edge of front wall25 and encompassing ventionalfinned vcondenser coil 58 'is'provided in con- I denser compartment 38 and seats against seat portions 500 of fan shroud 50, as seen in Fig. 3. compressor motor assembly 59 is provided in condenser compartment 33 and maintained in position therein by a plurality of leg members 60 fastened to bottom A' hermetic wall 14 by any'suitable means. For thesake of simplicity, the usual connections between the comprmsor 59, evaporator coil 57 and condenser coil 58 have not been shown, since the same are conventionaland in no Way form any part of the herein disclosed invention.

" A filter 61 is placed in evaporator compartment 37 and is maintained in position therein against frame members 7 by the edge of flange 23 projecting from side wall 17 and one side of the tongue and groove connection'41 formed in front wall 25. Filter 61 completely covers room airinlet opening 26.

Fan 55, when properly rotated by motor 54,'serves to, draw room air through opening 26 in front Wall 25 and through condenser coil 58 to remove the condenser heat and then exits the condenser compartment 38 by way of outlet opening 20 back to the outside.

It will be apparent that when the cover member 13 is mounted on the casing 12, it can be removed therefrom by a slight pivotal movement of the cover but sufficient rer. flanges 33, 34Iai1d 35 to clear the upper free edges of rear wall 15 and side walls 16 and '17, Whereupon'the cover member 13 can then be removed from the casing 12 along a horizontal plane. It can be readily seen that bottom wall 14, could be omitted and the cover member 13 would still be maintained securely in position on casing 12. In'such a construction, it will be apparent that with the cover member 13 mounted on casing 1 2, it can be removed therefrom by. a slight vertical. movement of thecover sufiicient for flanges '33, 34 and 35 to clear the upper free edges of. rear wall 15 and sidewalls 16 and 17, whereupon the cover member can then beremo ved from the casing along the horizontal plane. Again the window. only need be suthciently high to providelthe slight vertical movement necessary for the flanges to clear the casing, p w

It can be readily seen that we have provided a twopiece molded cabinet assembly well adapted for carryingoutits intended function and objects, permit-ting easy accessibility to the components therein while 'the same is mounted within awindow structure and without necessitating removal of theside seals.

We wish it to be understood that our invention 'is not to be limited to the specific constnictions and arrange ments shown and described, except only insofar as the claims may be so limited, as it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

- We claim: a V '1. A room air conditioner adapted for window mounting comprising a one-piece molded casing, said casing including a bottom wall, aback wall'and joining side walls; a onekpiece molded cover member for said casing including a front wall and top wall, whereby said casing and cover members together form a complete cabinet; means dividing said cabinet into an evaporator compartment and a condenser compartment; and means for retaining said cover member on said'casing, said retaining means being so constructed and arranged that 'a slight vertical movement of said cover member will disengage said cover member from said casing for removal therefrom along a substantially horizontal plane.

2. A room air conditioner adapted for window mounting comprising a one-piece molded casing, said casing including abottom' wall, a back wall and'joiningside walls; a divider insert mounted Within said casing and cooperating therewith to form evaporator and condenser compartments; a' one-piece molded cover member for said casingcomprising a front wall and topwall whereby said casing and cover member together form a commeans molded integrally with said casing and said cover member foriretaining said insert in position within said cabinet and for providing an air'seal'between said evaporator and condenser compartments; and means for retaining said cover member on said casing.

' 3; room' air conditioner of the type adapted for window mounting comprising a-one-piece molded casing, said casing including a bottom" wall, a-bac'k wall and joining sidewalls; a one-piece molded cover member for said casing comprising a front wall and top wall, whereby said'casin'g and cover member together form a complete cabinet and said cover member m'ay'be removed from said casing 'for access thereto without disturbing said side sealsj a'divider insert mounted within said'cabinet and cooperating therewith to provide evaporator and condenser compartments therein; a first fan scroll mounted within said condenser compartment; a second fan scroll mounted within said evaporator compartment; retaining means molded integrally with said cabinet for maintaining said fan scrolls in position; complementary retaining means molded integrally with said casing and cover member for maintaining said divider insert in position and for providing an air seal between said evaporator and condenser compartments; and means for retaining said cover member on said casing.

4. A room air conditioner adapted for window mounting comprising a one-piece molded casing, said casing including a bottom wall, a back wall and joining side walls; a one-piece molded cover member for said casing including a front wall and top wall, whereby said casing and cover members together form a complete cabinet; means dividing said cabinet into an evaporator compartment and a condenser compartment; and means for retaining said cover member on said casing, said retaining means comprising flanges depending from the free edges of said top wall and encompassing said back and side walls, whereby a vertical movement of said cover member only suflicient for said flanges to clear the top edges of said back and side walls will disengage said cover member from said casing for removal therefrom along a horizontal plane.

5. A room air conditioner adapted for window mounting comprising a one-piece molded casing, said casing including a bottom wall, a back wall and joining side walls; a one-piece molded cover member for said casing including a front wall and top wall, whereby said casing and cover members together for a complete cabinet; means dividing said cabinet into an evaporator compartment and a condenser compartment; and means for retaining said cover member on said casing, said retaining means comprising flanges depending from the free edges of said top wall encompassing said back and side walls and flanges projecting from the free edges of said front wall and encompassing said bottom and side walls, whereby a pivotal movement of said cover member only suflicient for said depending flanges to clear the top edges of said back and side walls will disengage said cover member from said casing for removal therefrom along a horizontal plane.

6. The room air conditioner of claim 3 wherein said second fan scroll has a horizontally extending portion integrally formed therewith providing a plenum chamber in said evaporator compartment.

7. A room air conditioner adapted for window mounting comprising a one-piece molded casing, said casing including a bottom wall, a back wall and joining side walls; a one-piece molded cover member for said casing including a front wall and top wall, whereby said casing and cover members together form a complete cabinet; a divider insert mounted within said cabinet and cooperating therewith to provide evaporator and condenser compartments therein; a first fan scroll mounted within said condenser compartment; a second fan scroll mounted within said evaporator compartment; retaining means molded integrally with said cabinet for maintaining said fan scrolls in position and complementary retaining means molded integrally with said casing and cover member for maintaining said divider insert in position and for providing'an air seal between said evaporator and condenser compartments; and means for retaining said cover member on said casing, said retaining means comprising flanges depending from the free edges of said top wall encompassing said back and side walls and projecting from the free edges of said front wall and encompassing said bottom and side walls, whereby a pivotal movement of said cover member only suflicient for said depending flanges to clear the top edges of said back and side walls will disengage said cover member from said casing for removal therefrom along a horizontal plane.

8. The room air conditioner of claim 7 wherein said second fan scroll has a horizontally extending portion integrally formed therewith providing a plenum chamber in said evaporator compartment, and wherein said rear wall has outside air inlet and outlet openings formed therein and said front wall has room air inlet and outlet openings formed therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,737,824 I Brower Dec. 3, 1929 12,658,101 Coxe Nov. 3, 1953 2,682,159 Trask June 29, 1954 2,751,760 Williams June 26, 1956 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIUN Patent No. 2339 297 June '3 1960 Henry Karger et al0 It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4 line l0 for "gain" read gaining column 5 line 31 for 'for read form Signed and sealed this 8th day of November 1960.,

(SEAL)- Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT c. WATSCFN Attesting ()flicer Commissioner of Patents 

